Christopher Buckner - Swords of Rome

Julius placed the palm of his hand on Gaius’ face, turning it towards him, so he could look into his son’s eyes.

“I know you want to stay with me — I can see that in your eyes. However, I will not allow you to watch me die, Gaius. Your destiny lies elsewhere, even if you can’t entirely understand why I am doing this now. Even so, you will understand, someday. You will understand the gift that I’m giving you. You will have a life, a purpose and be able to stand for something greater than ourselves. Will you be strong for me, Gaius?”

He tried to hold back his already flowing tears just for a moment as he looked into his father’s own saddened eyes, and answer him.

He did not want to agree. He did not want to leave him alone to die. He did not want to start down the path that his father and Valerius wanted. Gaius fought to stand and tell his father that he refused what he was saying, and that he would stand by his side until the end. However, as Gaius looked at his father, he could see the pain that he was in, and that, deep down, while he did not want Gaius to leave, he knew it was for the best.

Gaius rubbed his tears from his eyes and wiped his cheeks, before he found the courage to answer.

“I understand, father. I promise I will not let you down.”

“That’s my boy. Now, come, I want to show you something.”

Gaius watched as his father walked over to his bed, which was on the far side of the small house. Gaius soon joined him.

“I know you have seen these before, when I wasn’t around,” Julius confronted Gaius with a grin. “Now I want you to know what they are.”

Gaius sat by his father’s side as he opened the trunk and removed the thin sheet that lay on top of the items inside. Most of the things were ignored, but it was the chest plate with the ivory white wolf that Julius held up.

“This is the crest of the Sixth Legion, the Wolves of Rome,” Julius began as he rubbed his hand across the face of the wolf, which stood in the center of the expensive armor, surrounding by fig leaves of silver, with smaller depictions of wolves running in a pack on each breast.

“I was their chief centurion, and they were my family. I would have done anything to protect them, and they would me. We were defenders of the Republic, willing servants of Rome, but most of all we fought to protect those we left at home. Very few of the old guard is left, save for myself and Valerius. He trains young men such as you to become the next generation of Wolves. Because of that, the Sixth Legion is unique. They aren’t comprised of farmers or seasonal soldiers, but men who have sworn a lifelong oath to keep our Republic safe.”

“But I thought Rome had no standing army,” Gaius asked. He had studied a lot about warfare, mostly so he could make his games with Antony more entertaining.

Julius smiled. “True, to a point, but Rome is always at war in one form or another. We’ve only just united the whole of Italy, and before that a year did not go by that we weren’t at someone’s throat. However, the Sixth, they, as I have already said, are unique. They are kept ready in the south to protect the Republic’s interests, and prepared at a moment’s notice to march anywhere the Senate might deem necessary,” Julius explained. “For the most part Valerius keeps the legion filled at less than half strength, around a thousand men. More are added as needed.”

Julius handed the armor over to Gaius, urging him to take it from him, which he did.

He had held it many times, now after hearing what his father had said, it seemed heavier than it did now as his shacking arms struggled to keep it in his possession.

“You are too young to be a soldier now, but soon, when you come of age this armor will be yours to wear. With it, you will carry a huge burden, and the honor of our family. The Sixth will become your new home, its men your brothers, and Valerius your guardian to take my place.”

Gaius looked over at his father with a heavy heart as he fought to hold back his tears.

“Watch out for them, your men, your family — your pack, and they will protect you from the evils of this world.”

Gaius stared down at the image of the wolf, which looked much like the one he saw in the forum in Rome. Why, he couldn’t understand but for some reason, this animal was looking out for him, as the old shopkeeper had said.

Gaius cradled the armor close to his chest as he embraced the destiny his father had set him down. He swore to make him proud; he would become a great warrior as his father was before him, but today, he just wanted to be a twelve-year-old boy who was saying good-bye to everything he’d known.

Gaius fell into Julius’ arms as for the first time in his life the man embraced his son and cried with him. They would remain together for several more hours as Julius would tell more tales about the contents of the chest, gifts that he was giving to his son for the journey that was to come.

Gaius stood before the front door, his hand resting on the latch, not yet finding the courage to pull it open. Two hours had passed quicker than he would have liked. There was so much more than he wanted to say to his father, but his mind drew a blank as emotions overtook him. Now, it was time to go, and before him stood the first independent act, he had to master.

“It is okay, Gaius,” Julius said as he rested his hand over his son, urging him to pull the door open.

His hand shook terrible but with his father’s encouragement, he finally pulled the door open, revealing the setting sun, and to his surprise, Antony and Julia still waiting for him.

“Gaius!” Julia called out as she rushed over to him with her brother a step behind her. Right away, the young girl’s eyes could see that something was wrong.

“Where are you going?” Antony asked with haste as he saw his friend holding a large bag filled with his belongings, his father holding another bag over his shoulder.

Gaius could not answer as his eyes were gazed downward. He still had difficulty understanding himself what was happening.

“Are you leaving, Gaius?” Julia asked as she stood next to her brother, who held tightly onto her hand.

“He is,” Julius answered for his son; resting his hand down on Gaius’ shoulder, trying to support him as best he could.

“Why?” Antony demanded as his voice showed signs of a quiver.

“I have to,” Gaius finally spoke.

“But why? I don’t understand,” Julia asked, tears falling from her eyes.

“I just have to!” Gaius replied sharply, not really meaning to sound so harsh.

Julia let go of her brother and stepped in front of Gaius, looking up at him with tearful eyes as she struggled to understand the sudden turn of events.

“Don’t you like me anymore? Did I do something to upset you that might be causing you to leave?” she pleaded.

Gaius could not answer. A part of him wanted to yell at her, tell her that he didn’t like her anymore. Certainly, it would have made more sense to her if he had. However, words could not form.

“Young Gaius has made a very brave decision. He has chosen to serve the people of Rome so that he may protect little girls such as yourself,” Valerius broke the awkward silence as he stepped beside Gaius and answered Julia’s question.

“When will he be back?” she asked.

“When he has finished his training,” Valerius answered.

“When will that be?” Antony then asked.

“I’m afraid it will be some years,” Julius spoke as he handed Gaius’ bags over to Valerius, who then strapped them to the smaller of the two horses.

“I don’t want you to go, Gaius!” Julia cried as she rushed forward and wrapped her arms around him as tightly as she could manage, tears rolled down Gaius’ chest as she buried her face into his tunic.